The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the family planning practice of Thai Muslim women and the accessibility of services in the four southernmost provinces of Thailand. It also seeks to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic, demographic and related factors upon contraceptive use. Data used in the analysis were obtained by interviewing currently married women in the reproductive ages during April 1988 and are based on interviews with 194 and 202 females, respectively, from villages with high and low contraceptive prevalence rates. The results of the analysis reveal that more than 90 per cent of the respondents know of at least one modern contraceptive method. However, a high proportion of females think that some methods cause problems and side-effects. Most of the women know of facilities that provide family planning services and that can be reached in a short time. The majority of the respondents say that in general the services are satisfactory but they feel that the personnels at hospitals and health centers sometimes are seen as lacking in courtesy and patience in providing instructions and explanations to the women. Another problem is the length of waiting time involved when utilizing family planning service facilities. The proportions of ever use in the high and low contraceptive prevalence areas are 51.5 per cent and 27.4 per cent, respectively. In seeking the reasons for the difference, motivation to use contraceptives and the cost of regulation were taken into account. The analysis hypothesizes that high motivation and low cost of fertility regulation will stimulate the practice of family planning. The cost of regulation is considered as related inversely to the number of methods familiar to the respondents, i.e. the more methods known, the lower the cost. The data confirm the hypothesis. For motivation to practice family planning, this study uses three variables: 'number of living children', 'want no more children' and 'desire family size'. It is found that women in areas with high prevalence rates have higher motivation to use contraceptives than women living in low prevalence rate areas. This study shows that, firstly, the government should put more effort into a campaign to change the attitude of Thai Muslim women with regard to their desired family size. Secondly, health personnel should provide accurate and complete information in an appropriate form about each method. Thirdly, the government should encourage better education for Thai Muslim women. Finally, the work status and working conditions of women should be improved. These steps are as a means of increasing contraceptive prevalence rates in the four provinces.
